Motor-car-elevating cradle or skid



Jan. 12 1926. 1,569,469

E. P. ELZEY MOTOR CAR ELEVATING CRADLE OR SKID Filed March 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 12 1926. 569,469

E. P. ELZEY MOTOR CAR ELEVATING CRADLE OR SKID Filed March 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m4@/m M w,

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

- UNITED STATES IDGAI P. MY. 0] PLUM, WEST vmonna.

IOIOR-CLR-ELEVATING CRADLE 0B SKID.

Application tllcd larch 12, 1923. Serial No. 824,488.

To all whom, it 'IIL(l-' l/ concern.

Be it known that LEaoan P. ELZEY, a citizen of the United States of'America, and resident of Parkersburg, Wood County, Slate. of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-tar-lllevating (-radlesor S k1ds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of a tilting cradle or skid for elevating motor vehicles to position for under body work thereon, and the objects and nature of the invention Wlll be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanations of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I now believe to be the preferred mechanical expression or embodiment of my invention from among other forms, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope thereof.

An object. of the invention is to produce an improved motor vehicle elevating cradle or skid of the rocking type with the ends in view of economizing in first cost, attaining maximum strength and durabillt providing rocking or fulcrum supports 0 maximum simplicity and strength and rendering the cradle portable at least under certa1n conditions, and to otherwise provide 1mprovements addin to the utility and efficiency of the era le.

lVith these and other ends in view, my invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of the cradle.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cradle in horizontal elevated position.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective, certain parts being shown detached.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal section on the line 55, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective.

The cradle comprises a longitudinally elongated rectangular or open-center frame providing a pair of longitudinal parallel runways for the motor vehicle wheels e nipped at the front end with bumpers or wueel stops. This frame is provided with a depending front support, and a depending intermediate support in the form of one or more rockers on which the frame tilts or The parallel runways are provided by the longitudinal sills of the frame, each in the example shown, consisting of an elongated channel bar 1 fixedly secured to and mounted on the horizontal top flange of elongated angle bar 2 that extends approximately throughout the length of the channel and is bolted, riveted or spot welded thereto at intervals throughout the length thereof. The web of the channel 1 presents a wide flat floor or track throu hout the length of the channel for the vehic e wheels, while the longitudinal upstanding opposite edge flanges 1 of the channel cooperate with the web of the channel to form a depressed track or runway and serve to guide and confine the whee s against lateral deflection from the floor.

The rear ends of the trackways are open so that the vehicle wheels can enter the same from the floor or ground and can travel therefrom to the ground, when the cradle is in tilted position with its free end resting on the ground or floor. The vertical flanges 2 of the an le bars of the sills of the frame are longitu inally beveled off at their rear ends 2" and usually terminate short of the rear ends of the channels 1 to permit the rear edges 1 of the floors of the channels to approximately engage the ground when the cradle is in tilted osition. Various means or formations can provided at the floors of the runways to furnish traction and to prevent the drive wheels of motor vehicles slipping or spinning when traveling up and down said floors. For instance, in the example illustrated, I show the portions of the flat longitudinal channel webs over which the drive wheels travel, formed with closely arran ed perforations 2 punched therein. The c annel floors thus present more or less closel perforated areas to provide traction for t 1e drive wheels and prevent slipping thereof particularly when the floors and tires are wet or moist.

The wheel stops or bumpers at the front ends of the runwa s of the longitudinal frame sills, are in t e example shown, rigidly secured to the front ends of the channel bars 1 and project upwardly therefrom. In this instance, each wheel stop consists of a pair of vertical parallel upstanding gusset plates 3; and a section of channel bar or iron 4 fitted between the two gusset plates.

In this instance, the stop members 4: consist of lengths of stock channels of the same dimensions as the channels 1, and the two gusset plates 3 of a stop fit the outer longitudinal edges of the channel 4 and are permanently fixed thereto, as by riveting or other method and the gusset plates depend from the member 4. The stops are fitted down on the front ends of the channels 1 with the bottom edges of the members 4: abutting the top edges of the flanges 1 of the channels and with the gussets fitting down at the outer vertical faces of the channels. The stops are then secured to the channels by removable bolts 3, passed through the lower ends of the gussets 3 and. the channel flanges 1. v

The sto s thus form individually complete units which can be separated from the channels for packing and shipment and can be readily applied and secured to the channels for use.

When driving some motor vehicles along the wheel runways of the cradle, it is exceedingly diificult if not impossible, to see the wheel stops or bum ers at the front ends of the runways, from t e drivers seat. For the proper handling of the vehicle while advancing in the runways, it is necessary for the driver to know when the front wheels of his vehicle are approaching the front ends of the runways, and also when advancing along the runways, it is advisable for the driver of the vehicle to have some guide or indicator to follow for steering purposes, to enable the driver to properly manipulate his steering wheel so that the front wheels of the car will advance iff a direction parallel with the runways. I provide a uide or indicator for this purpose, at the front of the cradle and arranged at an elevated point visible from the drivers seat, and this elevated guide is alined with at least one of the runways, usually with the left hand runways because the majority of motor vehicles are driven from the left hand side of the car, although the guide can be readily shifted into alinement with the right hand runway, if so desired for a motor vehicle having a right hand drive.

In the particular example illustrated, this guide is formed by an elongated upstanding rod or post 6, projecting upwardly in continuation of the plate 4 of one of the wheel stops and arranged longitudinally thereof at its front face and at its lower end clamped, preferably by bolts 6, against the vertical inner side face of the outer side longitudinal flange of said plate. The flange of the stop plate 4 of the. other channel or runway of the cradle can be likewise punched to provide bolt holes for clamping this guide rod thereto or if so desired, two guide rods canbe provided, one for each wheel runway.

The two stiff rigid longitudinal sills that provide for the wheel runways of the cradle, must be rigidly connected together to form an open frame, somewhat in the shape of an open rectangular loop, to provide ample room for a person located on the floor within the frame to gain access to the underside of a vehicle held elevated by the cradle.

It is desirable to reduce to the minimum, cross connections between the longitudinal sills, likely to obstruct the workmen below the vehicle. In the articular example illustrated, the longitudinal angle irons 2, of the sills, terminate short of both ends of the sills, and the sills are fixedly connected together at their front ends and at their rear ends by cross bars. At the front, a strong cross connection is provided by the front leg or support, and at the rear an angle iron cross bar is provided. The angle bar 9 is arranged and secured at the rear portions of the longitudinal sills with the vertical flange of cross bar 9 abutting the end edges of the two sill angle bars and with the top horizontal flange of cross bar 9 secured tight 1y to and against the bottom faces of the floors of the channels 1 preferably by re movable bolts 9", or in any other suitable manner.

The front support or leg of the cradle, in the example illustrated, is arranged under and secured to the front ends of the longitudinal angle bars of the two sills and consists of a horizontal bottom or foot cross piece or bar 10, a pair of gusset plates 11, a pair of posts or uprights 12, and a pair of angle or inclined braces 13, with the necessary securing means or devices.

In this instance, the two vertical end bars or posts 12 at their upper end edges abut the bottom faces of the horizontal flanges of the angle bars 2 of the sills while the upper end portions of said posts fit the inner verticalside faces of the vertical flanges of said sill angle bars, and are secured to said vertical flanges. These posts 12 are preferably composed of angle bars, each with one flange fitting the inner side face of a sill angle bar 2. The angle braces 13 are preferably composed of angle bars, at their lower ends secured to intermediate portions of the lengths of legs'12 and at their upper rear ends secured to the depending flanges of the sill angle bars 2 at points a distance to the rear of the front ends of said sill bars. These angle braces fit and are arranged at the inner vertical side facesof the angle bars of the sills and the angle bars forming the legs 12 with their front ends abutting the front flanges of legs 12 and their upper ends abut ting the under faces of the horizontal flanges of the sill angle bars 2.

The foot or bottom cross bar 10 of the front leg or support, is in ,this instance, formed by an angle bar having a front vertical flange and a rearwardly extending horizontal flange to rest on the ground or floor. The vertical gusset plates 11 fit the vertical flange of bar 10 at the ends thereof and are fixed thereto as by rivets, and rise therefrom. The ends of bar 10 fit within the lower ends of the end uprights 12 and the asset plates tit the rear vertical faces of tfle front flanges of said uprights, and said front flanges, the gusset plates, and the upright flange of bar 10, are secured together as b removable bolts 10.

T e front support is preferably removably coupled to the sills and of knock down construction. The foot member 10 preferably has the gusset plates 11 permanently secured thereto, but is preferably removably secured to the legs 12 by bolts and the legs' 12, and braces 13 are preferably removably secured to the sill flanges 2 by bolts and the braces are referabl removably secured to the legs by olts. These parts can hence be shipped in separated or knocked down conditlon, and thereafter can be readily assembled and secured together in operative form. The same is true of the rear connection 9.

It will be noted, that the front support 1()-12 while rigidly uniting and spacing the two sills, yet is without cross connection he-' tween the sills above the base or foot member 10, hence the front end of the space between the sills is not obstructed and a person can pass into the cradle through the, front end thereof, below the car.

The cradle or frame is also provided with an intermediate depending leg or support which in this instance constitutes the fulcrum or rocker on which the frame or cradle tilts vertically to and from inclined and elevated positions. This intermediate supporting rocker, in this instance, consists of a pair of similar vertical stiflly connected bows or curved bars each having a ground engaging rounded central portion 15 and upwardly diverging legs 15 at their upper extremities fitting and secured to the angle bars of the sills.

In the example shown, each rocker is composed of a bowed angle bar length having its horizontal flange at the under side of the bar and extending inwardly and having its vertical flange extending upwardly. The upper ends of these rockers fit against the inner vertical faces of the depending flanges of sill angle bars 2, and are secured to said flange, while the top end'corners of the rockers, preferably abut the under faces of the horizontal flanges of bars 2.

The two rockers 1515, are rigidly braced and tied together against relative lateral deflection, by a cross bar 17, and gusset plates 18, in this instance, extending between and secured to the rear legs of the two rockers. a short distance to the rear of. i and above the curved ground engaging portions 15 of the rockers. I

constitutes a unitary structure for knock. down and assembly purposes, in that. the

gusset lates 18 are riveted to the ends of the ang e bar 17 The ends of the cross'connection 17 18, are preferably rer'novably secured to the rockers 15, by bolts 18, and the rockers 15, are preferabl secured removably to the flanges 2, o' the sills. by bolts 15". The cradle can thus be knocked down for packing and shipment, with each sill (consisting ofchannel 1 and angle bar 2) constituting a unitary structure, each end stop constituting a umtary structure, also parts of the front support, the war cross connections, and parts of the rocker or interi'nediate support, constituting units or unitary structures. These structures or units can be separated one from the other and thus shipped or stored, and can be readily assembled to produce the set up cradle.

The rockers are arran ed intermediate the lengths of the longitudinal sills to cooperate with the front leg or support in carrying the weight of the motor vehicle located on the cradle when the cradle .is in horizontalor elevated position. The cradle is so arrangedand ap roximately balanced on its intermediate roc er support as to normally assume inclined position with the rear ends of the sill channels on the ground and the front end of the cradle'and its depending leg elevated above the round.

When the cradle is in this normal position, the motor vehicle to be examined or-repaired, is driven slowly from the ground onto and longitudinally of the channels. As the vehicle advances longitudinally in the channels, it will reach a point where the weight of the front portion of the vehicle will cause the cradle to rock on its intermediate support to lower the front support to the ground and to bring the cradle sills to an approximately horizontal position with the motor vehicle supported thereby in an ele vated position. The wheel stops orbumpers at the front ends of the wheel runways limit forward movement of the vehicle on the cradle.

The vehicle can be returned to the ground or floor level, by slowly backing the vehicle on the cradle, whereupon the cradle will automatically tilt to inclined position when the vehicle on its rearward travel reaches a certain point on the cradle, and the continued backing movement of the vehicle will cause the same to progress from the cradle to The cradle provides an open center below the vehicle, and obstructions in this opening are reduced to the minimum, and hence jack supports as a fixed part of the cradle obstructing said opening, are avoided, particularly as vehicles, that the cradle is adapted to receive, vary in length and in the positions of their axles and other parts to which a jack can be applied. It is sometimes desirable to jack up either end of a vehicle held elevated by the cradle to permit removal of a wheel or for other purposes. I hence have provided the cradle with a removable and longitudinally adjustable jack stand or sup port. In the particular example illustrated, this support consists of a relatively narrow plate or bar horizontally bridging the cen ter opening of the cradle and extending transversely from side sill to side sill and removably supported by said sills and adjustable longitudinally thereof approximate ly throughout the lengths of said sills. In this example, this jack support comprises a channel bar or plate 20 having its longitudinal edge flanges extending upwardly. This channel in length is approximately equal to the distance between the inner edges of the side sills of the cradle. The ends of the plate 20 rest on and are fixed to the horizontal flanges of angle bars 21 traversing the ends of the channel and having their upstanding vertical flanges fitting the inner vertical faces of the inner flanges of the channels of the cradle side sills. These transverse end bars 21 of the jack stand form hangers by whichthe stand is hung on and supported from the inner side flanges of said side sill channels. To this end, said bars 21 are equipped with hanger hooks 22 to removably catch over and rest on said side sill flanges, whereby the jack stand can be lifted from and applied to said side sill flanges and can slide longitudinally thereof.

It will be noted that the cradle is portable in that it can slide along the-ground or floor using the rocking support as a runner or skid for this purpose, where it is not necessary to bodily lift and transport the cradle.

The construction is exceedingly strong and durable, and yet, in view of the size thereof andthe functions to be performed thereby, gziindbe economically constructed and assem- It is evident that various changes, modifications and variations might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosures hereof.

What I claim is:

1. A tilting cradle for elevating motor vehicles, comprising a longitudinall '-elongated centrally-open frame vertical y tiltexten runway able to and from tilted and horizontal positions and embodyin wheel-track-forming longitudlnal channe s, and supports therefor to uphold the same in horizontal elevated position and in tilted position, in combination with a jack stand adapted to traverse said center 0 ening, said stand being applicable to an removable from said frame and adjustable longitudinally thereof, and formed to fit down between said channels and having end hangers to hook over the longitudinal inner side flanges of the channels.

2. A motor vehicle elevating and supporting cradle comprising longitudinal elongated channels providing runways for the vehicle wheels, in combination with a transversel -elongated jack stand constructed to beneath the vehicle from channel to channel and having at its ends upstanding supporting hangers formed with hooks to engage said channels.

3. A motor vehicle elevating and sup porting cradle tiltable Vertically to and from horizontal vehicle elevated position and inclined vehicle receiving and discharging position, said cradle comprising-longitudinally-elongated vehicle supporting and wheel receiving runways open at their rear ends and havingwhee stops at their front ends, and visual guide indicating means projecting upwardly from the front end of the cradle to an elevated position above the adjacent wheel stop to guide the driver of the vehicle advancing along said runways.

4. A motor vehicle elevating and supporting cradle tiltable vertically to and from horizontal vehicle elevated position and inclined vehicle receiving and discharging position, said cradle comprising longitudinally-elongated vehicle supporting and wheel receiving runways open at their rear ends and having wheel stops at their front ends, and an upwardly extending rod rising from the front end of a runway to serve as a visual guide for the driver of a vehicle advancing along said runways.

5. A motor vehicle elevating and supporting cradle tiltable vertically to and from horizontal vehicle elevated position and inclined vehicle receiving and discharging position, said cradle comprising longitudinally-elongated vehicle supporting and wheel receiving runways open at their rear ends and having wheel stops at their front ends, and visible guide means in addition to and separate from said sto s and arranged to locate the vehicle ha ting point to the driver of a vehicle advancing along said 6. A motor vehicle elevating cradle embodying a pair of spaced parallel straight sills stiff throughout their lengths, each sill comprising a vehicle wheel-track -forming channel in length equal to the length of the sill and a longitudinal bottom bar rigid with the channel and forming the sill with a longitudinal depending bottom flange; said sills being spaced apart and rigidly 5 connected by a rear cross connection, a depending U-shaped front ground support secured to said flanges, and an intermediate depending rocking support secured to said flanges; the space between the sills being 0 otherwise open and unobstructed; the space between the front ends of the sills opening forwardly and being unobstructed above said U-shapcd front ground support; said cradle being constructed and arranged to automatically rock on said intermediate 1 support, to and from elevated horizontal position and inclined position with the rear ends of the stiff sills resting on the ground, by the weight of the motor vehicle moving longitudinally of the sills with its wheels 20 traveling in said channels.

EDGAR P. ELZEY. 

